Wrapper-seal.



No. 837,361. v y PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

- E. F. WEBBBR.

WRAPPER SEAL.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 30, 1905.

LII

EDMUND F. l/VEBBER, OF NENV YORK, N. Y.

WRAPPER-SEAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1906,

Application filed March 30, 1905. Serial No. 252.852.

To all zuhmn it ntay concern.-

Be it known that I, EDMUND F. l/VEBBER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city and State of New York, have invented a new and useful VVrapper-Seal, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a wrapper-seal which is intended to lock the overlapping portions of a wrappersuch, for instance, as an envelop together, which seal comprises a single blank of sheet metal bent to form outer, inner, and intermediate plates, the outer and inner plates being provided with means for locking them to the intermediate plate when the seal is closed.

A further object is to provide means for preventing the opening of the seal after it is once closed.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents the seal-blank. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the seal in its open position. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section through the seal, taken in the plane of the line A A of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the overlapping portions of a wrapper with my improved seal applied thereto, the seal being represented in its closed position. Fig. 6 is a vertical central section taken in plane of the line B B of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an inverted plan view of the seal and the overlapping portions of the wrapper. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing the means for looking the seal in its closed position, and Fig. 9 is a similar view showing a modified means for locking the seal in its closed position.

The seal comprises an outer plate 1, an intermediate plate 2, and an inner plate 3, all formed from a single blank of sheet metal of the desired strength to suit the particular purpose for which the seal is intended. In the present instance I have shown these plates as generally circular in form, the inner and outer plates being connected to the intermediate plate by reduced necks 4 and 5, along which necks the seal is folded to bring the several plates into substantial alinement.

The neck portions at the opposite ends of the intermediate plate 2 are provided with transversely-elongated slots 6 and 7 therethrough.

The free ends of the outer and inner plates are provided with tabs 8 and 9, respectively, which are bent toward the intermediate plate 2 and are located in position to enter the transversely-elongated slots 6 and 7 when the seal is closed. These tabs 8 and 9 are provided with locking-tongues 10 and 11, which are formed by providing curved trans verse slots 12 and 13 through the said flaps. These slots are curved toward the free ends of the tabs, so that when the tongues are folded at an angle to the tabs the heels of the tongues will project beyond one side of the tabs and the points of the tongues on the other side of the tabs will project beyond the other side of the tabs. These tongues are strengthened by means of longitudinal beads 14 and 15 and are also used for insuring the bending of the tongues at the desired point.

The outer plate 1 is provided with a series of teeth 16 around its periphery and the inner plate 3 is also provided with a series of teeth 17 around its periphery, the teeth on the two plates being so arranged that they will lap past the periphery of the intermediate plate and alternate with each other when the seal is closed.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a slightly-modified form of locking-tongue for the tabs. In this form the tongue 18 is partially severed from its tab by side cuts or slots 19 20, thus leaving two locking-heels 21 22.

In operation the overlapping portions 23 and 24 of the wrapper are inserted, the portion 28 between the outer and intermediate plates and the portion 24 between the inner and intermediate plates. The three plates are then pressed together, thus forcing the tabs through the wrapper and through the slots 6 and 7. The free ends of the tongues 10 and 11 are folded toward the centers of the plates, the tongue 10 between the inner and intermediate plates and the tongue 11 between the outer and intermediate plates. This bending of the tongues will swing their heels into position to cause the tongues to project beyond both sides of the slots 6 and 7, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, thus locking the seal in its closed position. As the seal is closed the teeth 16 and 17 will be forced through the overlapping portions of the wrapper, thus forming an effective protection against the insertion of a tool which would tend to bend the tongues into position to permit their withdrawal.

To insure the proper folding and registering of the several plates and flaps, so that the tongues of the flaps Will properly enter their slots in the intermediate plate, I provide creases in the necks 4 and 5 and at the bases of the said flaps, Which creases are clearly shown in Fig. 1.

It will thus be seen that when the seal is closed it cannot again be opened. Therefore the Wrapper in connection With which the seal is used is effectually protected.

It is evident that this seal may be made in various shapes and sizes and of various materials to suit different requirements. Hence I do not Wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth; but.

What I claim is- A seal comprising a single blank bent to form outer, inner and intermediate plates, means for automatically locking the plates together and teeth carried by the outer and inner plates arranged to overlap the periphery of the intermediate plate as the seal is closed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two Witnesses, this 24th the day of March, 1905.

. EDMUND F. WEBBER. Witnesses: FREDK. HAYNES, C. S. SUNDGREN. 

